“Getting a good role is hard no matter what you look like, and Lupita did a phenomenal job,” the Soul Food actress said. “This [12 Years a Slave] was the first thing she did out of her tutelage and she’s a brilliant actress… she’s amazing because she embodied that role and made you feel.”

In an interview with theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon, Williams discussed Lupita Nyong’o’s groundbreaking Oscar win, and weighed in on the issue of colorism in Hollywood.

“Getting a good role is hard no matter what you look like, and Lupita did a phenomenal job,” the Soul Foodactress said. “[12 Years a Slave] was the first thing she did out of her tutelage and she’s a brilliant actress… she’s amazing because she embodied that role and made you feel.”

“It’s hard to get good roles anyway, no matter how fair your skin is…no matter how brown your skin is. It’s up to you to make the best out of each opportunity that you’re given.”

Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter for more Entertainment news at @WitherspoonC